Jay-Z’s net worth is $2.8 billion, making him the wealthiest music artist in history and hip-hop’s first and richest billionaire. Born Shawn Corey Carter in Brooklyn, New York, Jay-Z built his fortune through fourteen Billboard 200 number-one albums, the co-founding of Roc-A-Fella Records and Roc Nation, and a diversified portfolio of luxury spirits, music streaming, real estate, technology investments, and fine art that has nearly tripled since he first crossed the billionaire threshold in 2019.
Updated March 2026: According to Forbes, Jay-Z’s net worth stands at $2.8 billion as of the 2026 Billionaires List, where he holds the #1504 position. He ranks as the wealthiest musician in the world, as confirmed by the List of music artists by net worth tracking publication data through March 2026.
Shawn Corey Carter was born on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in the Marcy Houses, a public housing project in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Eli Whitney High School, George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School (also attended by Biggie Smalls and Busta Rhymes), and briefly Trenton Central High School, but did not graduate. In his teenage years, he sold crack cocaine to supplement his family’s income — a period he has documented extensively across his music catalog, most explicitly on The Blueprint, American Gangster, and 4:44. He found a mentor and early collaborator in Brooklyn rapper Jaz-O and began recording music in the late 1980s.
Unable to secure a record deal, Carter co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994 with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke. The label released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996), to critical acclaim. His follow-up, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997), was the first of eleven consecutive albums to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 — a record. The Blueprint (2001), featuring Kanye West’s production, is widely considered a landmark of hip-hop and was certified platinum four times by the RIAA. The Black Album (2003) announced his first — and short-lived — retirement. He has since released multiple acclaimed albums, culminating in 4:44 (2017), which addressed infidelity, generational wealth, and Black entrepreneurship, and debuted at number one.
Jay-Z topped the Billboard Hot 100 four times: as lead artist with “Empire State of Mind” (featuring Alicia Keys, 2009), and as a featured artist on Mariah Carey’s “Heartbreaker” (1999), Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” (2003), and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (2007). He served as president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings from 2004 to 2007, during which he signed and developed Rihanna, Kanye West, and Ne-Yo. Billboard and Vibe named him the greatest rapper of all time in 2023. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. His total Grammy count stands at 24.
Jay-Z married singer and businesswoman Beyoncé on April 4, 2008. They have three children: Blue Ivy Carter (born January 7, 2012), and twins Rumi Carter and Sir Carter (born June 13, 2017). The family maintains primary residences in Los Angeles and New York. In February 2025, a civil lawsuit that had alleged Jay-Z and Sean Combs assaulted a 13-year-old girl in 2000 was dismissed with prejudice and without settlement by the plaintiff, as confirmed by Reuters. Jay-Z subsequently filed suit against the accuser’s attorney, citing an estimated $20 million annual loss in Roc Nation business contracts during the litigation period, as reported by Deadline.
Jay-Z’s net worth is $2.8 billion, according to Forbes’s 2026 Billionaires List. He is the wealthiest music artist in history. His fortune was built primarily through his luxury spirits businesses (D’Ussé and Armand de Brignac, which generated combined proceeds of over $1 billion), supplemented by Roc Nation, Tidal, his music catalog, real estate, and a diversified technology and venture portfolio.
Jay-Z crossed the billionaire threshold in 2019, according to Forbes, becoming hip-hop’s first billionaire. His path included co-founding Roc-A-Fella Records and Roc Nation, selling 50% of Armand de Brignac to LVMH for approximately $320 million, selling D’Ussé to Bacardi for a reported $750 million, and selling a majority of Tidal to Block for $297 million. Combined with his music catalog, investments in Uber, Square, and Sweetgreen, and a fine art collection, his net worth has reached $2.8 billion as of 2026.
Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards across his career, making him one of the most decorated recording artists in Grammy history. He was named the greatest rapper of all time by both Billboard and Vibe in 2023 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
As of March 2026, Jay-Z is 56 years old. Jay-Z was born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Jay-Z stands 6’2″ tall (188 cm).
Jay-Z has been married to Beyoncé since 2008. Together they are one of the most powerful couples in the entertainment industry. They have three children: Blue Ivy (14), and twins Rumi and Sir (8).
Yes, Jay-Z has three children with his wife Beyoncé: daughter Blue Ivy Carter (14) and twins Rumi and Sir Carter (8). Blue Ivy has already made a name for herself, winning a Grammy Award and voicing a character in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.
Jay-Z lives in Los Angeles, California. In 2023, he and Beyoncé purchased a Malibu mansion for a record-breaking $200 million, making it one of the most expensive residential real estate transactions in U.S. history.
With a net worth of $2.8 billion as of 2026, Jay-Z’s annual income comes from multiple business ventures including Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac champagne, and his D’Ussé cognac brand. His diversified portfolio generates hundreds of millions in revenue per year.